Maui County's Office of Economic Development has awarded more than $900,000 in grants to support workforce development, small businesses, watershed and marine conservation, renewable energy, long-term care, and culture and the arts.

Grants include $275,000 to the University of Hawai'i for the Maui Community Care Corps program aimed at increasing the long-term care workforce and promoting home and community-based services for the elderly and disabled, and $300,000 to support Maui Arts and Cultural Center activities for students and teachers.

Other awards include $100,000 to the Tri-Isle Resource Conservation & Development Council for East Maui watershed protection; $125,000 to Maui Nui Botanical Gardens; $60,000 for the UH Aquaculture Extension Program; $35,000 to the Maui Economic Development Board to assess entrepreneurial and small business opportunities on Moloka'i; $10,000 to UH to establish a nursery for jatropha, a biofuel crop; $7,800 to the Maui Nui Marine Resource Council; $7,000 to the Lahaina Restoration Foundation's Malama Lahaina project; and $5,000 for Arts Education For Children's documentary on musician Henry Kaleialoha Allen.